Positive Health Online

Abstract

GRAY and FLATT, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK write that Coriandrum sativum (coriander) has been documented as a traditional treatment for diabetes . The authors conducted a study to investigate the antihyperglycaemic and insulin-modulating properties of coriander .

Background

Methodology

The authors incorporated coriander into the diet (62.5g/kg) and drinking water (2.5g/l) of streptozotocin-diabetic mice.

Results

Coriander incorporated into the diet and drinking water reduced hyperglycaemia. An aqueous extract of coriander (1 mg/ml) increased 2-deoxyglucose transport (1.6-fold), glucose oxidation (1.4-fold) and glucose incorporation into glycogen (1.7-fold) of isolated murine abdominal muscle comparable with 10-8 M-insulin. In acute 20 minute tests, aqueous extract of coriander evoked a stepwise 1.3-5.7-fold stimulation of insulin secretion, which was abolished by 0.5 mM-diazoxide. Prior exposure to the extract did not change subsequent stimulation of insulin secretion by 10 mM-L-alanine, and thereby negated an effect caused by detrimental cell damage. The extracts effect was potentiated by 16.7 mM-glucose and 10 mM-L-alanine but not by 1 mM-3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. Insulin secretion was further enhanced by the presence of extract. The extracts activity was heat stable, acetone soluble and not altered by overnight exposure to acid or dialysis. Its activity was reduced by overnight exposure to alkali. Sequential extraction with solvents revealed insulin-releasing activity in hexane and water fractions which indicated a possible cumulative effect of more than one extract constituent.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate the presence of antihyperglycaemic, insulin-releasing and insulin-like activity in Coriandrum sativum .

References

Gray AM and Flatt PR Insulin-releasing and insulin-like activity of the traditional anti-diabetic plant Coriandrum sativum (coriander). British Journal of Nutrition 81(3) 203-9. Mar 1999.